Monnas back to winning ways against Hartpury College

Whatever Monument’s head coach Tjaart van der Walt had to say to his team during half-time of their match against Hartpury College of Gloucester it worked.

Monnas’ Wit Bulle won the clash in the Markotter Stadium during the World Schools Festival by 32-21 after having the marginalist of leads of 8-7 at the break.

Monnas’ left winger, Luan van der Walt, had an impressive performance and just didn’t manage to celebrate it with a hat-trick of tries. He lost the ball behind the try-line two minutes before the final whistle while trying to put it down.

At the end of the first half the visitors from Gloucester in England was breathing fire and it seemed as if Monnas might be in trouble. In the second half the team from Krugersdorp’s backs managed to generate enough gaps in Hartpury’s defence.

It might also have been the heat and travel that caught on with the visitors as Henco van Wyk, Ethan Snyman and Kagiso Nyamande scored their tries by easing through Hartpury’s defence.

Van Wyk was named Man of the Match for his performance. He is also the head boy of Monument and helped the SA Schools u18 Sevens side to defend their title as champions at the Capricorn Sevens earlier this month in Windhoek, Namibia.

Monnas lost their influential captain and eightman, Izan Esterhuizen, within the first minute of play in the match. Esterhuizen sustained a knee injury during an earlier practice and took another shot on the knee in the opening exchanges.

Hartpury College’s flyhalf and captain, Josh Phipps, was a true general in the back and could feel more than happy with his performance on the day. Flanker Mason Hughes and prop Toby Tyson also deserves a mention for their efforts.

Scorers:

Monument 32 (8) – Tries: Luan van der Walt (2), Henco van Wyk, Ethan Snyman, Kagiso Nyamande. Conversions: Byron Wentink (2). Penalty: Wentink. Hartpury College 21 (7) – Tries: Mason Hughes, Toby Tyson, Max Rendell. Conversions: Josh Phipps (3).

[powr-comments id=”82cb4bfe_1553613333480″]

• About
• Latest Posts

Hannes Nienaber

Hannes Nienaber covered schools' rugby in South Africa for Volksblad, Beeld, and Rapport for 11 years. He also created the biggest school rugby website in South Africa - School of Rugby - back in 2007. It eventually morphed into Supersport Schools Plus. He still occasionally milks cows.

Latest posts by Hannes Nienaber (see all)

• Wynberg and Affies bag resounding victories on Day 2 of Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-09
• Seymore leads Paul Roos from the front at Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-08
• Khan and Roth gets SACS off to a good start at Peninsula Festival - 2025-01-08